The artwork, titled “The Protector,” was created by Desmond Morris in 1972. It belongs to the Surrealism art movement and is of the figurative genre.
In “The Protector,” the viewer is presented with an abstract and surreal composition featuring a series of elongated, organic forms. Predominantly, the piece consists of a tall, slender figure on the left, which appears to offer support or protection to a smaller, inverted figure on the right. The color palette is subdued yet varied, emphasizing shades of purple, orange, and green against a muted, gradient background. The scene evokes a sense of whimsicality and otherworldliness, characteristic of surrealist art, allowing for open interpretation regarding the narrative and symbolic elements within the work. The manner in which the figures are rendered conveys a dreamlike quality, prompting viewers to delve into their imagination to derive meaning from the scene.
